Canadian Hog Farmer Condemns Gestation Crates

A British Columbian farmer says that animal welfare should not be sacrificed for profit.

Dirk Keller, a hog farmer from British Columbia, recently wrote an article for the Ottawa Citizen, condemning the cruel practice of gestation crates. Keller noted that forcing pigs to live in cramped cages may be optimal for maximizing efficiency, but it is not worth the toll that it takes on the mental and physical well-being of the animals. “Housing breeding pigs in this fashion is considered normal by our authorities, who call it a ‘common practice,’” says Keller. “I call it government sanctioned cruelty against farm animals … we need to make a profit in order to make a living—but not through animal suffering.” Keller also reported that letting animals live in a more natural environment where they can interact with one another may also benefit their safety and physical well-being, as well as their mental health.